JOURNAL ARTICLE

Why Career Transition Is So Hard.

  • Published In: Harvard Business Review, 2025, v. 103. P. 104 1 of 3

  • Database: Business Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: IBARRA, HERMINIA 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on the challenges and strategies of career reinvention in an era marked by rapid technological change and the rise of AI, which demand frequent career transitions. It explains that such transitions are often emotionally difficult due to a loss of professional identity and a lack of institutional support, as traditional, linear career paths give way to nonlinear, under-institutionalized trajectories. Drawing on research, the article recommends an iterative approach to career change that embraces uncertainty through experimenting with diverse possibilities ("diverge and delay"), balancing current roles with new ventures ("exploit and explore"), and cultivating both new and supportive relationships ("bridge and bond"). This mindset of ongoing adaptation, termed the "learning plot," helps individuals navigate the emotional complexities of career transitions and leverage them for long-term growth and opportunity.

Additional Information

  • Source:Harvard Business Review. 2025/02, Vol. 103, p104
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Business and Management
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0017-8012
  • Accession Number:182913543
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